Carton taping machine

ABSTRACT

MACHINE FOR APPLYING STRIPS OF ADHESIVE TAPE AROUND OPPOSED LOWER CORNERS OF A CARTON TO SECURE THE TOP THEREON, HAVING A CONVEYOR FOR MOVING THE CARTONS TO AND FROM A TAPING STATION, A PRESSURE PLATE TO ENGAGE THE CARTON IN SAID STATION AND PRESS THE TOP FIRMLY INTO PLACE, TAPE APPLYING HEADS MOVABLE ACROSS THE OPPOSED LOWER CORNERS OF THE CARTON, TO PRESS THE LEADING END OF A STRAND OF TAPE AGAINS THE BOTTOM OF THE CARTON AND AROUND THE CORNER TO THE ADJACENT SIDE AND CUT THE TAPE, AND TOP-LIFTER MEMBERS TO ENGAGE THE TOP AND PRESS IT UPWARDLY AND STOP THE OPERATION OF THE MACHINE IF THE TOP IS NOT SECURELY TAPED ON THE CARTON.

Feb. 9, .1971 I J. w. DERENTHAL 3,561,190

' CARTON TAPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 15, 1969 9 Sheets-Sheet a T! EA J. w. DERENTHAL CARTON TAPING MACHINE T1 EB Feb. 9, 1971 Filed Sept L 15; 1969 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 9, 197.1 J. w. DERENTHAL 3,561,190

. CARTON TAPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 15, 1969 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb 9, 1971 J. w. DEENfI-iAl.

' CARTON TAPING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Sept. .5, 1969 3 Feb. 9,1971 J. w. DERENTHAL 3,561,190

v CARTON TAPING MACHINE 9 Sheets$heet '7 Filed Sept. 15, 1969 III J. W. DERENTHAL CARTON TAPING MACHINE Feb. 9,1971

9 Sheets-Sheet 8 I Filed Sept. 15, 1969 United States Patent US. Cl. 53-67 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Machine for applying strips of adhesive tape around opposed lower corners of a carton to secure the top thereon, having a conveyor for moving the cartons to and from a taping station, a presser plate to engage the carton in said station and press the top firmly into place, tape applying heads movable across the opposed lower corners of the carton, to press the leading end of a strand of tape against the bottom of the carton and around the corner to the adjacent side and cut the tape, and top-lifter members to engage the top and press it upwardly and stop the operation of the machine if the top is not securely taped on the carton.

This invention relates to a machine for applying adhesive tape around the lower corners at opposite sides of a series of cartons to secure the tops thereon.

The invention provides a thoroughly practical machine for performing the taping operation at a high rate of production and in a reliable manner. The machine also includes an optional mechanism for applying a lifting force to the top of the taped container and for stopping the machine if the top is insecurely taped.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative machine embodying features of the invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are horizontal sectional views of adjacent and slightly overlapping portions of the machine of FIG. 1, taken on a common plane lying just above the upper surface of the carton conveyor.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the machine, showing in particular the input end portion of the conveyor.

FIG. 4 is a vertical and longitudinal section taken on the line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a vertical and longitudinal section taken on the line 55 of FIG. 2B, and showing a portion of the machine which adjoins and slightly overlaps the portion shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical and transverse section taken on the line 66 of FIG. 5. 4

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical and transverse section taken on the line 77 of FIG. 2B and showing a portion of the machine which adjoins and slightly overlaps the portion shown in FIG. 6 with the parts shown in the positions they occupy prior to the start of a tape-applying stroke.

FIG. 8 is a slightly enlarged fragmentary view of the portion of the machine shown in FIG. 7, with the parts in the positions they occupy at an intermediate point in the tape-applying stroke.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary vertical and transverse section taken on the line 99 of FIG. 5, showing in particular the top-lifting elements.

As best shown in FIG. 1, the illustrative machine is supported on a frame which includes a pair of vertical channel members 10 at each side (only those at the lefthand end of the machine being shown in FIG. 1) braced by horizontal channel members 12, upper and lower transverse channel members 14, with two other transverse channel members 16 extending between the longitudinal channel members 12.

3,561,190 Patented Feb. 9, 1971 CARTON CONVEYING As best shown in FIG. 3, supported on the lower transverse members 14 is a central longitudinal channel member 18 having secured at each side outwardly projecting horizontal support brackets 20 on which the longitudinal rails 22 of the carton conveyor are supported through intervening spacer blocks 24 and base plates 26. Each of the rails 22 carries a series of rollers 28 rotatably mounted on tranvserse horizontal axes, with their upper surfaces contiguous with a common horizontal plane to provide substantially frictionless movement of the cartons C along the tops of the rollers 28 longitudinally of the machine.

Supported between the two pairs of rollered rails 22 is a longitudinal reciprocable feed carriage, generally designated 30. As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 9, this carriage 30 includes a horizontal support bar 32 having secured at either edge a pair of vertical side plates 34 to give it an H shape in cross section. The carriage is supported on a series of rollers 36 rotatably mounted near the lower edges of the side plates 34 and rolling upon a horizontal bearing plate 38 secured to the upper face of the channel member 18. The carriage 30 is prevented from tipping by guide plates 40 which extend outward horizontally from either side of a spacer block 42 on the bearing plate 38 to engage the upper surfaces of the rollers 36, and is guided laterally by a series of rollers 44 which are rotatably mounted on the under surface of the support bar 32 and engaging the inner edges of the guide plates 40.

The carriage 30 is driven in its reciprocating movements by an air cylinder 46 which extends parallel to and alongside the carriage, with its casing secured at its outer end to one of the support brackets 20 and with the outer end of its piston rod secured by a pin (not shown) to one of the side plates 34.

As best shown in FIG. 4, supported between each pair of side plates 34 of the carriage is a feed dog 48 which is pivoted on a shaft 50 extending between the side plates 34 and urged in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 4, by a tension spring 52 connected at its upper end to a pin 54 at the outer end of the feed dog 48 and at its lower end to a pin 55 secured to one of the side plates 34. An adjustable stop means (not shown) limits movement of the feed dog 48 by the spring 52 so that the upper end of the feed dog is normally positioned at a level slightly above the plane of the tops of the conveyor rollers 28, as shown in FIG. 4, in position to engage the trailing ends of the cartons C resting on the conveyor rollers and push the cartons through the machine when the feed carriage is driven in its feeding stroke. When the feed carriage is stationary in its starting position, as shown in FIG. 4, the leading lower corner of a carton C entering the machine on the conveyor will engage the inclined upper surface of the first feed dog 48 and cam it downwardly against the resistance of the spring 52 to the point where the upper end of the dog is substantially coplanar with the upper surfaces of the rollers. When the trailing lower corner of the carton has cleared the first feed dog 48, the spring 52 will cause the dog to rock back upwardly to the feeding position shown in FIG. 4. A roller 56 rotatably mounted in a fork at the outer end of the feed dog 48 reduces the friction between the carton and the dog as the carton passes over it.

To limit the movement of the cartons into the machine and properly space them on the conveyor, two pairs of stop assemblies generally designated 58 and 60, respectively, are provided. As best shown in FIGS. 2A and 3, each of these stop assemblies includes a vertical roller 62 rotatably mounted at the inner ends of a pair of fingers 64 extending inwardly from the ends of a pair of lever arms 66 keyed on a vertical shaft 68 journalled in bearings 70 fixed to the outer face of a mounting plate 72 extending upwardly from the outer end of the support bracket 20. Also keyed on the shaft 68 at one side of the machine is a crank arm 74 to the outer end of which is pivotally attached a clevis 76 at the outer end of the piston rod of an air cylinder 78, the casing of which is pivotally attached by a clevis 80 to a bracket 82 on the mounting plate 72.

The two front stop assemblies 58 at opposite sides of the machine are coupled together by a link 84, the opposite ends of which are pivotally connected by clevises 86 to the outer ends of crank arms 88 keyed on the lower ends of the shafts 68, and the two rear stop assemblies 60 are similarly linked, so that the two front stop assemblies 58 move inwardly and outwardly in unison as do the two rear stop assemblies 60. When there is no carton on the input end of the conveyor, the stop assemblies are in the positions shown in full lines in FIG. 2A, the two front stop assemblies 58 being in their outer positions, and the two rear stop assemblies 60 in their inner positions.

As a carton moves into the machine along the conveyor 30, its leading edge engages and depresses the actuating arm 90a (FIG. 2A) of a control valve 90 which is mounted at the upper edge of one of the mounting plates 72 and connected to control the supply of compared air to the cylinder 78 of the front pair of stop assemblies 58. This actuates the valve 90 to reverse the air supply to this cylinder 78, extending its piston rod and rocking the shafts 68 to swing the fingers 64 inwardly toward the positions shown in broken lines in FIG. 2A. This movement takes place before the trailing end of the carton has cleared the front stop assemblies, so that the rollers 62 will yieldably engage the opposite sides of the carton, centering it on the conveyor, until the carton has moved forward to the point where the rollers 62 can ride off its sides, around its rear corners and against its trailing end, as shown in broken lines in FIGS. 2A and 3. The front stop assemblies thus prevent another carton from butting up against the trailing end of the first carton and depressing the first feed dog 48 from its position behind the trailing end of the first carton, in which it is shown in FIG. 4.

As the first carton reaches this position, shown in broken lines in FIG. 2A and in full lines in FIG. 4, its leading end engages and depresses the actuating arm 92a (FIG. 2A) of a second control valve 92 which is mounted on the plate 72 and which is connected to control the supply of compressed air to the cylinder 46 (FIG. 6) which drives the carriage 30. This reverses the air supply to the cylinder 46, causing the carriage 30 to be driven in its feeding stroke, with the first feed dog 48 pushing the carton to a taping station, in which it is shown in FIG. 5.

As the carriage 30 starts this feeding stroke, its leading end engages and depresses the actuating arm 94a (FIG. 2B) of a third control valve 94 which is mounted on the channel member 18 and is connected to control the supply of compressed air to the cylinder 78 (FIG. 2A) of the second pair of stop assemblies 60. This reverses the air supply to this cylinder 78, retracting its piston rod and rocking the arms 66 and fingers 64 outwardly so that the rollers 62 will clear the path of the carton and allow it to move to the taping station.

As shown in FIG. 5, as the carriage nears the end of this feeding stroke, a pair of rollers 95 rotatably mounted at the outer faces of the side plates 34 engage the inclined lower edges of a pair of L-shaped stop members 96 pivotally mounted on a horizontal shaft 98 extending between the inner rails 22, camming the stop members upwardly from their normal lower positions, shown in full lines, to their upper positions, shown in broken lines, at which they engage the leading end of the carton and prevent its coasting beyond the taping station after stopping of the carriage 30 at the end of its feed Stroke. 9

As the carton moves into the taping station, one of its leading vertical corners engages an inclined presser arm 99 (FIG. 2B) which extends horizontally inwardly from a block 101 pivotally supported on a vertical shaft 103 extending upwardly from a mounting plate 105 secured to a .transverse channel member 107. The presser arm is urged in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2B, by a tension spring 109, one end of which is hooked through a bolt 111 adjustably threaded through a bracket 113 secured to the block 101 and secured by a locknut and the other end of which is hooked through a stud 117 secured to the mounting plate 105.

Counterclockwise movement of the presser arm 99 by the spring 109 is limited by engagement of the arm 99 with the end of a stop screw 119 which is adjustably threaded through a bracket (not shown) on the mounting plate 105. Thus the presser arm is normally held in the position shown in full lines in FIG. 2B, in which it will engage the adjacent leading vertical corner of the carton entering the taping station, swinging the arm 99 outwardly against the resistance of the spring 109, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 2B, while pressing the carton laterally against a pair of guide plates 123 at the opposite side of the taping station, thus properly centering the carton in the taping station preparatory to the taping operation.

CARTON PRESSING AND HOLDING As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, mounted above the taping station for vertical reciprocating movement into and out of engagememnt with the top of a carton therein is a presser platen generally designated 100 which includes spaced horizontal plates 102 secured at the lower edges of support bars 104 extending laterally from a pair of vertical angle members 106 rotatably supporting on their two flanges vertically spaced pairs of guide rollers 108 and 110, respectively. The guide rollers 108 whose axes extend transversely of the machine are engaged between pairs of vertical guide rails 112 at each side of a support assembly fixed at its lower end to a longitudinal channel member 114 bridging the two upper transverse channel members 16 (FIGS. 1 and 5) and at its upper end to a pair of horizontal channel members 116 (FIGS. 1 and 6) cantilevered from the upper transverse channel member 14. The other guide rollers, whose axes extend longitudinally of the machine, are engaged between the inner edges of one of the rails 112 and the outer edges of a fixed vertical guide plate 118 suitably supported on the frame of the machine. Thus the presser platen 100 is supported for vertical reciprocating movement to and from carton-engaging position.

The presser platen is driven by an air cylinder 120 whose piston rod is pivotally attached by an adjustable clevis 122 to a bracket 124 secured to a plate 126 extending between the upper ends of the angle members 106, with its casing pivotally attached to a bracket 128 secured to the longitudinal channel member 114.

The supply of compressed air to the cylinder 120 is controlled by a fourth control valve 129 (FIG. 2B) whose actuating arm 129a is engaged and depressed by the leading end of the carriage 30 as it approaches the end of its feeding stroke. Such actuation of the valve 129 causes reversal of the air supply to the cylinder 120, driving the presser platen 100 downwardly to engage the top of a carton C in the taping station and press it firmly into fully seated position preparator to the taping operation.

TAPING Tape is applied around the lower corners at opposite sides of the carton in the taping station by means of a pair of tape heads generally designated 130 mounted at opposite sides of the taping station, one of these two similar tape heads being shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. As may be seen in these figures, each tape head includes a vertical mounting plate 132 which is supported and guided for vertical reciprocating movement by means of rollers 134 and 136 rotatably mounted thereon. The rollers 134, which are supported on longitudinal axes on the back of the plate 132, are engaged between the inner edges of a pair of vertically extending parallel guide rails 138 supported on a spacer plate 147 (FIG. 2B), which is secured, through another similar pair of vertical guide rails 140, to a transverse channel member 141. The rollers 136 whose axes extend transversely of the machine are rotatably supported on spaced vertical rods 139 extending perpendicularly from the back of the mounting plate 132 and are engaged between the outer and inner sets of guide rails 138 and 140.

This entire guiding assembly is pivotally supported on a bolt 131 (FIG. 7) extending through the upper end of the spacer plate 147 and through the outer end of the transverse channel member 16. Thus the tape heads can move transversely inwardly and outwardly to accommodate differences in the width of the cartons, bulging of the sides of the cartons, etc. The tape heads are resiliently urged inwardly toward the sides of the carton by a tension spring 133 (FIG. 7), the opposite ends of which are connected to adjusting screws 135 extending through the lower end of the spacer plate 147 and secured by locknuts 137.

When the tape heads are in their lowermost position, as shown in FIG. 7, which is the position they occupy in the interval between taping operations, they are forced outwardly against the resistance of the spring 133 by outwardly inclined cam plates 143 engaging rollers 145 rotatably supported on the backs of the mounting plates 132, thus freeing the sides of the carton for movement into and out of the taping station. As the tape heads start upwardly on their taping strokes, the rollers 145 ride off the cam plates 143, allowing the spring 133 to pull the tape heads inwardly to the point where the inner edges of the mounting plates 132 grip the sides of the carton and slide along it.

Each of the tape heads 130 is reciprocated vertically by means of an air cylinder 204 (FIGS. 1 and 8) the upper end of whose casing is'pivotally attached to a crossarm 206 (FIG. 1) at the upper end of the vertical channel member 207 and whose piston rod is pivotally attached by a yoke 211 to the upper edge of the mounting plate 132. The supply of compressed air to the cylinder 204 is controlled by a control valve 209 (FIG. 6) which is mounted on a bracket 213 on the lower transverse channel member 16 with its actuating arm 209a in position to be engaged and depressed by the edge of the presser platen 100 as it nears its lowermost, carton-engaging position. This actuation of the valve 209 reverses the connections to the air cylinder 204, retracting its piston rod and raising the tape head 130.

Pivotally mounted on the outer face of the mounting plate 132 is a tape guiding assembly generally designtaed 142 which includes a guide arm 144 pivoted on a spacer bolt 149 projecting from the outer face of the mounting plate 132. Rotatably mounted on the outer face of the guide arm 144 are three idler guide rollers 146, 148 and 150, and a pair of fluting rollers 152 and 154 and a presser roller 156 around or between which is threaded a strand of adhesive tape T extending from a supply roll R (FIG. 1) rotatably mounted on a longitudinally extending bolt 158 secured to the upper-end of the outer vertical rod 139, so that the supply roll R moves up and down with the tape head.

The guide arm 144 is urged to rotate in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 7, by a tension spring 160 whose upper end is connected by a bolt 162 extending from the outer end of the guide arm 144 and whose lower end is hooked through the upper end of a bolt 164 adjustably threaded through a bracket 166 secured to the outer member 139 of the mounting plate 132, with the bolt 164 being secured in the adjusting position by lock nuts 168. Clockwise movement of the guide arm 144 by the spring 160 is limited by restriction of the outward movement of the pistonrod of an air cylinder 170, the upper end of the casing of which is pivotally attached to a bracket 172 extending from the outer vertical support member 139, and the lower end of the piston rod of which is pivotally attached by an adjustable clevis 174 to a bolt 176 threaded into the outer end of the guide arm 144. The two ends of the cylinder are interconnected through a line 178 containing, in parallel, a one-way flapper valve 179 permitting unimpeded movement of the piston in one direction and an adjustable valve 180 which adjusts the rate of movement of the piston in the other direction, so that the cylinder 170 acts as a one-way dashpot to limit the rate of movement of the guide arm 144 by the spring 160.

The guide arm 144 is thus normally held in a generally horizontal position, as shown in FIG. 7, with the end of the tape T extending generally horizontally beneath the lower side of a carton C in the taping station, several inches inwardly of its lower corner. The fluting rollers 152 or 154 are of complementary convex and concave shape and are nested together so that the tape passing between them is resiliently fluted or curled lengthwise to increase its resistance to transverse bending and thereby cause it to extend in a generally straight horizontal line along its leading end projects some distance beyond the presser roller 156 and is unsupported.

Also mounted on the mounting plate 132 is a presser arm 182 which is pivoted on a bolt 184 extending from the outer face of the mounting plate. The presser arm 182 is urged in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 7, by a tension spring 186 whose upper end is hooked about a bolt 188 projecting from the outer end face of the presser arm 182 and whose lower end is hooked through a bolt 190 adjustably threaded through a bracket 192 at the outer end of a horizontal arm 194 extending from the lower end of the outer vertical support member 139. Clockwise movement of the presser arm 182 by the spring 186 is limited by the restricted inward movement of the piston rod of an air cylinder 196 whose casing is pivotally connected by a link 198 to the arm 194 and whose piston rod is pivotally connected by an adjustable clevis 200 to the bolt 188. The two ends of the cylinder 196 are interconnected, in the manner previously described in connection with the cylinder 170, to serve as a dashpot to limit the rate of movement of the presser arm 182 by the spring 186. Thus the presser arm is normally held on a generally horizontal position as shown in FIG. 7, with a presser roller 202 rotatably mounted at its inner end positioned beneath the end portion of the tape T.

During the first portion of the upward stroke of the tape head 130. the presser rollers 156 and 202 press the leading end of the tape T against the bottom surface of the carton C in the taping station. As the tape head continues upwardly past this point, the presser roller 202 first moves inwardly along the bottom of the carton, as the presser arm 182 pivots about the bolt 184, which is located below the roller 202, in the starting position of the presser arm. This causes the tape to be pressed firmly against the bottom of the carton to the end of the tape, in the direction away from the tape supply, thus smoothing the tape and preventing its buckling or wrinkling.

As the tape head 130 continues u wardly, the engagement of the presser rollers 156 and 202 against the bottom of the carton causes the guide arm 144 and the presser arm 182 to be rotated further in a counterclockwise direction against the resistance of the springs and 186, with resulting outward movement of the rollers 156 and 202 along the bottom of the carton to its lower corner, pressing the tape firmly against the carton as they move. As the rollers 156 and 202 reach the lower corner of the carton, they roll around it and start upwardly along the adjacent side of the carton.

As shown in FIG. 8, at approximately the point where the roller 156 turns the corner of the carton, the rotation of the presser arm 182 causes a hook-shaped finger 242 on the outer end of the arm 182 to engage a roller 240 rotatably mounted on the guide arm .144, with a cam surface 242a on the inner edge of the finger 242 camming the guide arm 144 further in a counterclockwise direction against the resistance of the spring 160, moving the presser roller 156 away from the side of the carton and away from the line of the tape T. This allows the tape T to be pulled against the edge of a cutting knife 210 mounted at the inner end of an L-shaped knife holder 212 which is pivotally mounted on a bolt 214 threaded into the mounting plate 132 and adjustably positioned for limited angular movement by means of stop screws 216 adjustably threaded through flanges 218 on the knife holder 212 and engaging opposite sides of a stud 219 projecting from the mounting plate 132. The knife holder is urged to rotate in clockwise direction about the bolt 214 by a tension spring 221, the upper end of which is booked through a bolt 223 threaded into the upper end of the knife holder 212 and the lower end of which is hooked through a stud 225 on the mounting plate 132. Thus the knife holder is normally held in the position at which the lower stop screw 216 engages the stud 219 until the tape T is pulled against the edge of the knife 210, and the tension of the tape causes the knife holder to be rocked in a counterclockwise direction, against the resistance of the spring 221, to the point where the upper stop screw 216 engages the stud 219, preventing further movement of the knife holder 212. At the same time, or just prior thereto, a pincher block 208 on the outer end of the presser arm 182 engages the tape T against the lower side of the roller 150, temporarily preventing further pulling of tape from the supply roll R. Since the leading end of the tape is securely attached to the carton, continued upward movement of the tape head 130 puts further tension on the tape, causing it to be cut by the knife 210 to the desired length. At the inner end of the cam surface 242a is a short dwell section 242b which is concentric with the axis of rotation of the presser arm 182 so that further movement of the presser arm 182 will not cause rotation of the guide arm 144, thus limiting the pressure applied to the tape T by pincher block 208.

As the tape head 130 completes its upward stroke, the presser roller 202 presses the remaining portion of the length of tape which has been cut from the strand firmly and smoothly against the side of the carton. When the tape head 130 reaches the end of its upward stroke, the upper edge of the mounting plate 132 engages and depresses the actuating arm 220a of a control valve 220 which is mounted on the inner vertical support member 139 and which is connected to control the supply of air to the cylinder 204. This again reverses the air supply to the cylinder 204 and causes the tape head 130 to be driven downwardly to its turn rotation of the presser arm 182 to its original position, because during the final portion of the pivotal movement of the presser arm 182 on the upward stroke of the tape head, a pin 222 on the presser arm is engaged behind the hooked end of a latch arm 224 which is pivotally mounted on a bolt 226 extending from the mounting plate 132 and which is urged in a clockwise direction by a tension spring 228 whose upper end is hooked about a pin 230 on the outer end of the latch arm 224 and whose lower end is hooked about a pin 232 on the mounting plate 132. The guide arm 144 is in turn prevented from being returned to its horizontal starting position by the spring 160 by virtue of engagement of the cam surface 242a on the presser arm 182 with the roller 240 on the guide arm 144.

When the tape head 130 reaches its lowermost or starting position, as shown in FIG. 7, the outer end of the latch arm 224 is engaged by an unlatching bolt 234 which is adjustably threaded through and projects upwardly from a bracket 236 extending from the arm 194, with the bolt 234 being secured in the adjusted position by lock nuts 238. This rocks the latch arm 2.24 in a counterclockwise direction against the resistance of the spring 228, causing the hooked end of the latch arm to disengage the pin 222 and allow the spring 186 to return the presser arm to its normal starting position, as shown in FIG. 7, at the controlled rate as determined by the setting of the control valve in the return line of the cylinder 196.

The guide arm 144 is returned to its horizontal starting position, as shown in FIG. 7, by the spring 160. Its initial return motion is controlled by engagement of roller 240 with cam surface 242a but when roller 240 rolls off the end of cam surface 242a, the rate of movement of guide arm 144 is controlled by valve 180 in the return line 178 of the cylinder 170. The fluting rollers 152 and 154 are rotatable only in the direction for forward feeding of the tape T, so that they hold the leading cut end of the tape in proper position for application to the next carton. The valves which control the rates of return movement of the cylinders 170 and 196 are so adjusted that the cylinder 170 allows the guide arm 144 to move much faster than the cylinder 196 allows the presser arm 182 to move. Thus, although the guide arm 144 starts its independent movement later, it reaches its horizontal position, shown in FIG. 7, before the presser arm 182, thereby preventing the end of the tape T from being caught beneath the presser roller 202 and insuring its proper positioning above the roller 202, as shown in FIG. 7, preparatory for the next taping operation.

RECYCLING The return of the tape head 130 to its lowermost starting position causes the lower edge of the mounting plate 132 to engage and depress the actuating arm 246a of a control valve 246 mounted on the bracket 236. This actuation of the valve 246 reverses the air supply to the cylinder 46 (FIG. 6) returning the feed carriage 30 (FIG. 1) to its starting position. As the carriage 30 reaches the end of its return stroke, its outer end engages and depresses the actuating arm 248a (FIG. 4) of a control valve 248 mounted on one vertical flange of the longitudinal channel 18. This actuation of the valve 248 reverses the air supply to the cylinder 120 (FIGS. 5 and 6) extending its piston rod and raising the presser platen out of engagement with the carton C.

TESTING As shown in FIG. 9, below the lower corners of a carton C in the taping station are a pair of top-lifter members 250 which are pivoted on bolts 252 at the outer ends of lever arms 254 whose inner ends are pivoted on bolts 256 secured to a support post 258 extending downwardly from the longitudinal channel member 18. The lever arms 254- are normally held downwardly against stop bolts 259 adjustably threaded through an upper cross arm 278 secured to the post 258 by tension springs 272 whose upper ends are hooked about pins 274 on the lever arms 254 and whose lower ends are hooked through studs 276 projecting from the upper cross arm 278.

The lifter members 250 are respectively actuated by a pair of air cylinders 260, the upper ends of the piston rods of which are pivotally attached by adjustable clevises 262 to the outer ends of crank arms 250a at the lower ends of the lifter members 250, and the lower ends of the casings of which are pivotally attached to brackets 264 at the outer ends of a lower cross arm 266 secured to the lower end of the support post 258. The piston rods of the cylinders 260 are normally retracted to rock the lifter members 250 outwardly to the positions shown in broken lines in FIG. 9, out of engagement with the carton C.

The air supply to the cylinders 260 is controlled by a valve 268 (FIG. 6) mounted on the upper transverse channel member :14 with a toggle-type actuating arm 268a in position to be momentarily actuated by a finger 270 extending from one of the angle members 106 during the upward return stroke of the presser platen 100. This momentary actuation of the valve 268 briefly reverses the air supply to the two cylinders 260 (FIG. 9), extending their piston rods upwardly and first rocking the lifter members 250 inwardly to the point where their upper ends engage the sides of the carton C in the taping station, adjacent is lower corners. As the piston rods continue their upward strokes, the lever arms 254 are raised against the resistance of the springs 272, causing fingers 250b projecting inwardly from the upper ends of the lifter members 250 to move upwardly to engage the opposite lower edges of the top of the carton and press the top upwardly with a controlled force whose magnitude is determined by the air supply pressure and the diameter of the pistons of the cylinders 260.

This force is controlled so that it is insufiicient to lift the entire carton. However, if the top has not been securely taped at either side of the carton, one or both of the lifter elements will lift the top and move upwardly with it to the point where a pin 280 on the associated lever arm 254 will move upwardly, as shown in broken lines at the right in FIG. 9, thereby depressing the actuating arm 282m of a control valve 282 secured on a bracket 284 at the outer end of the upper cross arm 278. The valves 282 are connected in the common compressed air supply circuit so that actuation of either of them will cut oif the supply of compressed air to all of the cylinders and stop the operation of the machine, whereupon the operator may manually remove from the taping station the carton whose top has been insecurely taped, and correct any apparent malfunction of the machine before restarting of the machine.

SUMMARY OF OPERATION Each carton C which enters the machine on the rollered conveyor rails 22 will actuate the control valve 90 (FIG. 2A), causing extension of the piston rod of the cylinder 78, swinging the front stop assemblies 58 inwardly and moving the rollers 62 into yieldable engagement with the sides of the carton until they ride around its trailing corners and against its trailing end to separate the carton from others behind it on the conveyor.

As the carton continues along the conveyor, its leading edge next actuates the second control valve 92 (FIG. 2A) and causes the cylinder 46 (FIG. 6) to drive the feed carriage 30 (FIG. 1) through its feeding stroke. At the start of this feeding stroke, the leading edge of the carriage actuates the third control valve 94 (FIG. 2B), causing retraction of the piston rods of the cylinder 78, swinging the rear stop assemblies 60 outwardly and clearing the path of the carton to move into the taping station. After the carton has passed the control valves 90 and 92, the front stop assemblies 58 will return to their outer positions and the rear stop assemblies 60 will return to their inner positions, to permit entry of the next carton.

As the carriage 30 nears the end of its feeding stroke, its leading end actuates the control valve 129 (FIG. 2B) causing the piston rod of the cylinder 120 (FIGS. 5 and 6) to be retracted, lowering the presser platen 100 into engagement with the top of the carton, pressing the top firmly into place.

As the presser platen 100 nears the end of its downward stroke, it actuates the control valve 209 (FIG. 7) causing the piston rods of the cylinders 204 (FIG. 8) to be retracted, raising the tape heads 130 and causing tape to be applied around the lower corners of the carton. When the tape heads reach the upper ends of their taping strokes, they actuate the control valves 220, causing the cylinders 204 to drive the tape heads back to their lowermost, starting position.

When the tape heads agaiii reach their starting position, one of them actuates the control valve 246 (FIG. 7) causing the cylinder 46 (FIG. 6) to return the feed carriage 30 (FIG. 1) to its outer, starting position. When the feed carriage 30 reaches this position, it actuates a control valve 248 (FIG. 1) causing the piston rod of the cylinder 120 (FIGS. 5 and 6) to be extended, raising the presser platen out of engagement with the carton.

The upward movement of the presser platen 100 momentarily actuates a control valve 268 (FIG. 6) causing momentary extension of the piston rods of the cylinders 260 (FIG. 9), first rocking the lifter members 250 inwardly into engagement with the opposed lower edges of the carton top, then imposing a controlled lifting force on the top. If the top is insecurely taped, the resulting upward movement of one or both of the lifter members 250 will actuate the one or both of the control valves 282, stopping the machine. If the machine is not stopped, the next carton that enters the machine will trigger the next cycle. As the feed carriage 30 pushes the next carton into the taping station, it simultaneously pushes the first carton out of the taping station.

-I claim:

1. Mechanism for applying a short length of tape around a corner of a carton comprising means for supporting said carton, tape roll support means for rotatably supporting a supply roll of said adhesive tape, a tape applying assembly, means for producing relative reciprocal movement between said tape applying assembly and said carton whereby said tape applying assembly moves transversely past said corner of said carton in taping and return strokes, said tape applying assembly including a presser roller rotatably mounted on a presser arm pivoted on said assembly and spring urged toward said carton so that during movement of said assembly in said taping stroke, said presser roller will press the leading end of a strand of tape extending from said supply roll against one side of said carton a short distance from its adjacent corner and roll along said tape against said carton to said corner and thence along the adjacent side of said carton for a short distance, a cutting knife, and a pivotally mounted guide arm having guide rollers rotatably mounted thereon and engaging and guiding the portion of said strand of tape between said supply roll and said presser roller, spring means urging said guide arm to rotate in one direction, and cam means on said presser arm for engaging said guide arm and moving it in the opposite direction against the resistance of said spring means during said taping stroke to rotate said guide arm to a position at which the tape is brought into engagement with said cutting knife to cut said tape to the proper length, said presser roller completing the pressing of the remaining portion of said length of tape during the balance of said taping stroke.

2. Mechanism as described in claim 1 in which said tape-applying assembly also includes a pincher member mounted on said presser arm for frictional engagement with the tape against one of said guide rollers on said guide arm to prevent further pulling of tape from said supply roll and thereby insure that the tape will be drawn firmly against the edge of the cutting knife.

3. Mechanism as described in claim 1 which also includes latch means operatively engaging said presser arm and said guide arm to prevent their movement by said spring means to their starting positions during said return stroke, unlatching means disengaging said latching means at the completion of said return stroke, and dashpot means to control the rate of return of said presser arm and said guide arm to said starting positions whereby said guide arm reaches said starting position before said presser arm.

4. A machine for applying short lengths of adhesive tape around the lower corners at opposite sides of a succession of cartons to secure the tops thereon, comprising conveyor means for supporting said cartons and advancing them stepwise first to a taping station preparatory to the taping operation and then away from said station following said operation, a presser platen mounted for vertical movement to and from a top-pressing position at which it engages the top of a carton in said taping station and presses it firmly into fully seated position on 11 the carton preparatory to the taping operation and holds said carton stationary during said operation, tape roll support means for rotatably supporting a pair of supply rolls of said adhesive tape, a pair of tape-applying assemblies supported at opposite sides of said machine for reciprocal transverse movement past the lower corners of a carton in said taping station, each of said tapeapplying assemblies including a presser roller rotatably mounted on a lever arm pivoted on the assembly and spring urged toward said carton so that during movement of said assembly in one direction, said roller will press the leading end of a strand of tape extending from the associated one of said supply rolls against one side of said carton a short distance from its adjacent lower corner and roll along said tape against said carton to said lower corner and thence along the adjacent side of said carton for a short distance, and cutting means for cutting said tape to the desired length during such application, and drive means for actuating said conveyor means, said presser platen, and said tape-applying assemblies to operate in synchronism in the sequence described, and to return to their starting positions for the next cycle.

5. A machine for applying short lengths of adhesive tape around the lower corners at opposite sides of a succession of cartons to secure the tops thereon, comprising conveyor means for supporting said cartons and advancing them stepwise first to a taping station preparatory to the taping operation and then away from said station following said operation, a presser platen mounted for vertical movement to and from a top-pressing position at which it engages the top of a carton in said taping station and presses it firmly into fully seated position on the carton preparatory to the taping operation and holds said carton stationary during said operation, tape roll support means for rotatably supporting a pair of supply rolls of said adhesive tape, a pair of tape-applying assemblies supported at opposite sides of said machine for reciprocal transverse movement past the lower corners of a carton in said taping station, each of said tapeapplying assemblies including a presser roller rotatably mounted on a lever arm pivoted on the assembly and spring urged toward said carton so that during movement of said assembly in one direction, said roller will press the leading end of a strand of tape extending from the associated one of said supply rolls against one side of said carton a short distance from its adjacent lower corner and roll along said tape against said carton to said lower corner and thence along the adjacent side of said carton for a short distance, and cutting means for cutting said tape to the desired length during such application, toplifter elements mounted for movement to engage the lower edge of the carton top and exert a lifting force on said top at the conclusion of the taping operation, sensing means actuated by movement of said top-lifter elements upwardly beyond their point of engagement with a securely taped top, and drive means for actuating said conveyor means, said presser platen, said tape-applying assemblies and said top-lifter elements to operate in synchronism in the sequence described, and to return to their starting position for the next cycle, said sensing means being connected to stop said drive means upon actuation of said sensing means due to the lifting of an insecurely taped top.

6. A machine for applying short lengths of adhesive tape around the lower corners at opposite ends of a succession of cartons to secure the tops thereon, comprising conveyor means for supporting said cartons and advancing them to and from a taping station, first drive means for actuating said conveyor means, a presser platen mounted for vertical movement to and from a top-pressing position at which it engages the top of a carton in said taping station and presses it firmly into fully seated position on the carton, tape roll support means for rotatably supporting a pair of supply rolls of said adhesive tape, a pair of tape-applying assemblies supported at opposite sides of said machine for reciprocal transverse movement past the lower corners of a carton in said taping station, each of said tape-applying assemblies including a presser roller rotatably mounted on a lever arm pivoted on the assembly and spring urged toward said carton so that during movement of said assembly in one direction, said roller will press the leading end of a strand of tape extending from the associated one of said supply rolls against one side of said carton a short distance from its adjacent lower corner and roll along said tape against said carton to said lower corner and thence along the adjacent side of said carton for a short distance, and cutting means for cutting said tape to the desired length during such application, third drive means for actuating said tape-applying assemblies, first control means connected to control said first drive means and arranged to be actuated by arrival of a carton in a predetermined position in said machine to cause said conveyor means to advance said carton to said taping station, second control means connected to control said second drive means and arranged to be actuated upon movement of said conveyor means to advance a carton to said taping station to cause lowering of said presser platen into pressure engagement with the top of the carton in said taping station, third control means connected to control said third drive means and arranged to be actuated by movement of said presser platen to top-pressing position to cause movement of said tape-applying assemblies to apply tape around the opposed lower corners of said carton, and additional control means also connected for respective control of said first drive means, said second drive means and said third drive means and arranged to be actuated following completion of such taping operation to cause said conveyor means, said presser platen and said tape-applying assemblies to return to their starting positions preparatory for the next cycle.

7. A machine for applying short lengths of adhesive tape around the lower corners at opposite sides of a succession of cartons to secure the tops thereon, comprising conveyor means for supporting said cartons and advancing them to and from a taping station, first drive means for actuating said conveyor means, a presser platen mounted for vertical movement to and from a top-pressing position at which it engages the top of a carton in said taping station and presses it firmly into fully seated position on the carton, second drive means for actuating said presser platen, tape roll support means for rotatably supporting a pair of supply rolls of said adhesive tape, a pair of tape-applying assemblies supported at opposite sides of said machine for reciprocal transverse movement past the lower corners of a carton in said taping station, each of said tape-applying assemblies including a presser roller rotatably mounted on a lever arm pivoted on the assembly and spring urged toward said carton so that during movement of said assembly in one direction said roller will press the leading end of a strand of tape extending from the associated one of said supply rolls against one side of said carton a short distance from its adjacent lower corner and roll along said tape against said carton to said lower corner and thence along the adjacent side of said carton for a short distance, and cutting means for cutting said tape to the desired length during such application, third drive means for actuating said tape-applying assemblies, top-lifter elements mounted at opposite sides of said taping station for movement to engage the lower edge of the top of a carton in said station and exert a lifting force thereon, fourth drive means for actuating said top-lifter elements, a first control means connected to control said first drive means and arranged to be actuated by arrival of a carton in a predetermined position in said machine to cause said conveyor means to advance said carton to said taping station, second control means connected to control said second drive means and arranged to be actuated upon movement of said conveyor means to advance a carton to said taping station to cause lowering of said presser platen into pressure engagement with the top of the carton in said taping station, third control means connected to control said third drive means and arranged to be actuated by movement of said presser platen to top-pressing position to cause movement of said tape-applying assemblies to apply tape around the opposed lower corners of said carton, fourth control means arranged to be actuated upon completion of the taping operation and connected to control said top lifter elements to engage the top of the taped carton and exert a lifting force thereon, sensing means arranged to be actuated by movement of said top lifter elements upwardly beyond their point of engagement with a securely taped top, means also respectively connected to said first drive means, said second drive means and said third drive means and arranged to be actuated following actuation of said toplifter elements to cause said conveyor means, said presser platen and said tape-applying assemblies to return to their starting positions preparatory for the next cycle,

said sensing means being connected to prevent the operation of all said drive means upon actuation of said sensing means due to the lifting of an insecurely taped top.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1955 Erickson 156486 3/1963 Larkin l56--468X THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner N. ABRAMS, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

